Multiple step-up rectifier circuit

ABSTRACT

A multiple step-up rectifier circuit, according to the invention, has a plurality of multiple step-up rectifier circuits, each of which is constituted by a combination of a plurality of diodes connected in series, output capacitors which are connected in parallel with this series circuit of the diodes, and supply capacitors which are charged by the input AC voltages and which supply the voltages to the output capacitors in amounts equal to the discharged voltages thereof. These plurality of multiple step-up rectifier circuits are connected in series, and each of these circuits receives an arbitrary AC voltage and generates a multiple step-up voltage. In these two adjacent circuts, there is the following relation: ##EQU1## where, C 1  is the capacitance of each of the capacitors constituting one of the multiple step-up rectifier circuits; E 1  is the input voltage thereof; I 1  is the value which is obtained by adding the output current of this circuit and all of the output currents of the circuits of the post stage of this circuit; n 1  is the half of the number of supply capacitors of this circuit; C 2  is the capacitance of each of the capacitors constituting the other multiple step-up rectifier circuits; E 2  is the input voltage thereof; I 2  is the value which is derived by adding the output current of the second circuit and all of the output currents of the circuits at the post stage of this circuit; and n 2  is the half of the number of the supply capacitors of the second circuit.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a multiple step-up rectifier circuit which is constituted by a combination of a plurality of capacitors and diodes and, more particularly, to a multiple step-up rectifier circuit having a plurality of output terminals in which different voltages and currents can be output from these output terminals, respectively.

In general, the multiple step-up rectifier circuit constituted by a combination of a plurality of capacitors and diodes has a high internal impedance; therefore, it has a drawback such that the output voltage changes significantly in response to a variation in load. In the case of taking out a voltage from the center tap of the rectifier circuit, other output voltages will be significantly influenced. Consequently, it is difficult to keep the ratios among the output voltages constant irrespective of the load condition. Therefore, in the conventional multiple step-up rectifier circuit, in the case of outputting a plurality of different voltages, it is very difficult to simultaneously regulate the output voltages. In addition, since each output voltage depends on the number of multiple steps, the voltage values can hardly be arbitrarily determined.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION p It is an object of the present invention to provide a multiple step-up rectifier circuit in which a plurality of output voltages can be arbitrarily set, the output voltage ratios can be maintained at constant values irrespective of the load condition, and each output voltage can be regulated.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a multiple step-up rectifier circuit comprising:

a plurality of rectifying elements which are connected in series so that the rectifying directions are the same and in each of which one end is connected to a reference potential point;

a plurality of first capacitors which are connected in series between both ends of the plurality of rectifying elements connected in series and which are connected in parallel with the plurality of rectifying elements;

a plurality of output terminals, each for taking out a voltage across an arbitrary number of first capacitors among the plurality of first capacitors;

a plurality of second capacitors, each end of which is connected to every other node among a plurality of mutual nodes of the plurality of rectifying elements connected with each other between the reference potential point and each of the output terminals;

a plurality of third capacitors, each end of which is connected to the nodes to which the second capacitors are not connected among the mutual nodes of the plurality of rectifying elements connected with each other between the reference potential point and each of the output terminals, each of the third capacitors having the same capacitance as that of each of the second capacitors; and

a plurality of pairs of input terminals which are provided for every circuit which is constituted between the reference potential point and each of the output terminals, the second capacitors of the circuit being connected in series with one of the pair of input terminals and the third capacitors being connected in series with the other pair of input terminals, and the plurality of pairs of input terminals being supplied with arbitrary AC voltages for a reference potential, respectively,

wherein the relation of the following expression is presented between the adjacent two circuits among the respective circuits which are constituted between the reference potential point and each of the output terminals, ##EQU2## where, C₁ : capacitance value of each of the second and third capacitors constituting one of the two adjacent circuits,

C₂ : capacitance value of each of the second and third capacitors constituting the other circuit,

n₁ : half of the number of the second and third capacitors constituting one of the circuits,

n₂ : half of the number of the second and third capacitors constituting the other circuit,

I₁ : current value which is obtained by adding all of the output currents of the circuits at the post stage of one of the circuits to the output current of one of the circuits,

I₂ : current value which is obtained by adding all of the output currents of the circuits at the post stage of the other circuit to the output current of the other circuit,

E₁ : value of the AC voltage which is supplied to one of the circuits,

E₂ : value of the AC voltage which is supplied to the other circuit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a circuit arrangement diagram showing the first embodiment of a multiple step-up rectifier circuit according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a reference circuit arrangement diagram for explaining the invention; and

FIG. 3 is a circuit arrangement diagram showing the second embodiment of a multiple step-up rectifier circuit according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described in detail hereinbelow with reference to tne drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an arrangement of the first embodiment. In the diagram, reference character A denotes an AC power source in which a voltage to be generated can be arbitrarily adjusted. AC power source A is connected to a primary winding n₁ of a transformer T. A secondary winding n₂ of transformer T has a center tap terminal m. Tap terminals a₂ and b₂ are provided among center tap terminal m and respective terminals a₁ and b₁ at both ends of secondary winding n₂, respectively. In this multiple step-up rectifier circuit, terminals a₁ and b₁ are used as the first input terminals and tap terminals a₂ and b₂ are used as the second input terminals, and center tap terminal m is connected to the ground and used as the reference potential terminal. Diodes D₁ to D₁₅ are connected in series between reference potential terminal m and first output terminal P₁ so that the rectifying directions are the same. The anode of diode D₁ is connected to terminal m and the cathode of diode D₁₅ is connected to output terminal P₁.

It is now assumed that the respective nodes among diodes D₁ to D₁₅ are e, f, g, h, j, k, l, n, s, t, u, v, w, and x. A capacitor C₁ is connected between a₂ and f. A capacitor C₂ is connected between f and j. A capacitor C₃ is connected between a₁ and n. A capacitor C₄ is connected between n and u. A capacitor C₅ is connected between u and x. A capacitor C₆ is connected between m and g. A capacitor C₇ is connected between g and k. A capacitor C₈ is connected between k and s. A capacitor C₉ is connected between s and v. A capacitor C₁₀ is connected between v and P₁. A capacitor C₁₁ is connected between b₂ and e. A capacitor C₁₂ is connected between e and h. A capacitor C₁₃ is connected between b₁ and l. A capacitor C₁₄ is connected between l and t. A capacitor C₁₅ is connected between t and w.

Capacitors C₁ and C₂ ; C₃ to C₅ ; C₆ to C₁₀ ; C₁₁ and C₁₂ ; and C₁₃ to C₁₅ are connected in series, respectively. Node k is a second output terminal P₂. Namely, capacitors C₆ and C₇ are the output capacitors between second output terminal P₂ and reference potential terminal m. Capacitors C₈ to C₁₀ are output capacitors between first and second output terminals P₁ and P₂. The other capacitors, C₁ to C₅ and C₁₁ to C₁₅, are supply capacitors to supply charging currents to output capacitors C₆ to C₁₀, respectively. As mentioned above, according to this multiple step-up rectifier circuit, the first multiple step-up rectifier circuit is constituted between first and second output terminals P₁ and P₂, the second multiple step-up rectifier circuit is constituted between second output terminal P₂ and reference potential terminal m, and second output terminal P₁ is used as the reference potential terminal of the first multiple step-up rectifier circuit.

The respective capacitances of capacitors C₃ to C₅, C₈ to C₁₀, and C₁₃ to C₁₅ constituting the first rectifier circuit are all equal and assume C_(a) [F]. On the other hand, the respective capacitances of capacitors C₁, C₂, C₆, C₇, C₁₁, and C₁₂ constituting the second rectifier circuit are all equal and assume C_(b) [F]. It is also assumed that AC power source A generates the AC voltage of a frequency f (=1/T: T is a period) [Hz].

In the above constitution, the operations in the loadless condition and in the condition in which a load is connected will now be described herein below.

In the loadless condition, it is now assumed that when the AC voltage of frequency f [Hz] was supplied to primary winding n₁ of transformer T from AC power source A, the AC voltage of 2E₀₁ [V] is generated between terminals a₁ and b₁ of secondary winding n₂ and the AC voltage of 2E₀₂ [V] is generated between terminals a₂ and b₂, respectively. It is now assumed that the potential of terminal b₂ becomes -E₀₂. At this time, diode D₁ is made conductive and a current flows from reference potential terminal m to terminal b₂ through diode D₁, node e, and capacitor C₁₁ (hereinafter, this current flow is expressed by m→D₁ →e→C₁₁ →b₂). Thus, the voltage of E₀₂ is charged into capacitor C₁₁ in which polarity on the node e side is positive.

Next, when the potential of terminal a₂ becomes -E₀₂, diode D₂ is made conductive and a current flows in accordance with the order of b₂ →C₁₁ →e→D₂ →f→C₁ →a₂. Thus, the voltage of 3E₀₂, which is the sum of the voltage 2E₀₂ between a₂ and b₂ and the charging voltage E₀₂ of capacitor C₁, is charged into capacitor C₁ in which the polarity on the node f side is positive.

Subsequently, when the potential of terminal b₂ becomes -E₀₂, diode D₃ is made conductive and a current flows in accordance with the order of a₂ →C₁ →f→D₃ →g→C₆ →m. Thus, the voltage of 4E₀₂, which is the sum of the voltage E₀₂ between a₂ and m and the charging voltage 3E₀₂ of capacitor C₁, is charged into capacitor C₆ in which the polarity on the node g side is positive. At this time, since the potential of terminal a₂ is +E₀₂, diode D₄ is made conductive and a current flows in accordance with the order of a₂ →C₁ →f→D₃ →g→D₄ →h→C₁₂ →C₁₁ →b₂ →m. Thus, the voltage of 4E₀₂, which is the sum of the voltage 2E₀₂ between a₂ and b₂ and the charging voltage 3E₀₂ of capacitor C₁ and the charging voltage -E₀₂ of capacitor C₁₁, is charged into capacitor C₁₂ in which the polarity on the node h side is positive.

Next, when the potential of terminal b₂ becomes +E₀₂, diode D₅ is made conductive and a current flows in accordance with the order of b₂ →C₁₁ →C₁₂ →h→D₅ C₂ →C₁ →a₂. Thus, the voltage of 4E₀₂, which is the sum of the voltage 2E₀₂ between a₂ and b₂, the charging voltage E₀₂ of capacitor C₁, the charging voltage 4E₀₂ of capacitor C₁₂, and the charging voltage -3E₀₂ of capacitor C₁, is charged into capacitor C₂ in which the polarity on the node j side is positive. When the potential of terminal a₂ then becomes +E₀₂, diode D₆ is made conductive and a current flows in accordance with the order of a₂ →C₁ →C₂ →j→D₆ →k (P₂)→C₇ →C₆ →m. Thus, the voltage of 4E₀₂, which is the sum of the voltage E₀₂ between a₂ and m, the charging voltage 3E₀₂ of capacitor C₁, the charging voltage 4E₀₂ of capacitor C₆, and the charging voltage -4E₀₂ of capacitor C₆, is charged into capacitor C₇ in which the polarity on the node k side is positive.

At this time, since the potential of terminal b₁ is -E₀₁, diode D₇ is made conductive, and a current flows in accordance with the order of a₂ →C₁ →C₂ →j→D₆ →k→D₇ →l→C₁₃ →b₁. Thus, the voltage of 8E₀₂ +E₀₁, which is the sum of the voltage E₀₂ between a₂ and m, the charging voltage 3E₀₂ of capacitor C₁, the charging voltage 4E₀₂ of capacitor C₂, and the voltage E₀₁ between m and b₁, is charged into capacitor C₁₃ in which the polarity on the node l side is positive.

Next, when the potential of terminal b₁ becomes -E₀₁, diode D₈ is made conductive and a current flows in accordance with the order of b₂ →C₁₃ →l→D₈ →n→C₃ →a₁. Thus, the voltage of 8E₀₂ +3E₀₁, which is the sum of the voltage 2E₀₁ between a₁ and b₁ and the charging voltage 8E₀₂ +E₀₁ of capacitor C₁₃, is charged into capacitor C₃ in which the polarity on the node n side is positive.

Then, when the potential of terminal a₁ becomes +E₀₁, diode D₉ is made conductive, and a current flows in accordance with the order of a₁ →C₃ →n→D₉ →s C₈ →C₇ →C₅ →m. Thus, the voltage of 4E₀₁, which is the sum of the voltage E₀₁ between a₁ and m, the charging voltage 8E₀₂ +3E₀₁ of capacitor C₃, and charging voltages -4E₀₂ and -4E₀₂ of capacitors C₇ and C₆, is charged into capacitor C₈ in which the polarity on the node s side is positive. At this time, since the potential of terminal b₁ is -E₀₁, diode D₁₀ is made conductive, and a current flows in accordance with the order of a₁ →C₃ →n→D₉ →s→D₁₀ →t→C₁₄ →C₁₃ →b₁. Thus, the voltage of 4E₀₁, which is the sum of the voltage 2E₀₁ between a₁ and b₂, the charging voltage 8E₀₂ +3E₀₁ of capacitor C₃, and the charging voltage -(8E₀₂ +E₀₁) of capacitor C₁₃, is charged into capacitor C₁₄ in which the polarity on the node t side is positive.

Subsequently, when the potential of terminal b₁ becomes +E₀₁, diode D₁₁ is made conductive, and a current flows in accordance with the order of b₁ →C₁₃ →C₁₄ →t→D₁₁ →u→C₄ →C₃ →a₁. Thus, the voltage of 4E₀₁, which is the sum of the voltage 2E₀₁ between a₁ and b₁, the charging voltages 8E₀₂ +E₀₁ and 4E₀₁ of capacitors C₁₃ and C₁₄, and the charging voltage -(8E₀₂ 3E₀₁) of capacitor C₃, is charged into capacitor C₄ in which the polarity on the node u side is positive.

Next, when the potential of terminal a₁ becomes +E₀₁, diode D₁₂ is made conductive, and a current flows in accordance with the order of a₁ →C₃ →C₄ →u→D₁₂ →v→C₉ →C₈ →C₇ →C₆ →m. Thus, the voltage of 4E₀₁, which is the sum of the voltage E₀₁ between a₁ and m, the charging voltages 8E₀₂ +3E₀₁ and 4E₀₁ of capacitors C₃ and C₄, and the charging voltages -4E₀₁, -4E₀₂, and -4E₀₂ of capacitors C₈, C₇, and C₆, is charged into capacitor C₉, in which the polarity on the node v side is positive. At this time, since the potential of terminal b₁ is -E₀₁, diode D₁₃ is made conductive, and a current flows in accordance with the order of a₁ →C.sub. 3 →C₄ →u→D₁₂ →v→D₁₃ →w→C₁₅ →C₁₄ →C₁₃ →b₁. Thus, the voltage of 2E₀₁, which is the sum of the voltage 2E₀₁ between a₁ and b₁, the charging voltages 8E₀₂ +3E₀₁ and 4E₀₁ of capacitors C₃ and C₄, and the charging voltages -4E₀₁ and -(4E₀₂ +E₀₁) of capacitors C₁₄ and C₁₃, is charged into capacitor C₁₅, in which the polarity on the node w side is positive.

Next, when the potential of terminal b₁ becomes +E₀₁, diode D₁₄ is made conductive, and a current flows in accordance with the order of b₁ →C₁₃ →C₁₄ →C₁₅ → w→D₁₄ →x→C₅ →C₄ →C₃ →a₁. Thus, the voltage of 4E₀₁, which is the sum of the voltage 2E₀₁ between a₁ and b₁, the charging voltages 8E₀₂ +E₀₁, 4E₀₁, and 4E₀₁ of capacitors C₁₃, C₁₄, and C₁₅, and the charging voltages -4E₀₁ and -(8E₀₂ +3E₀₁) of capacitors C₄ and C₃, is charged into capacitor C₅, in which the polarity on the node x side is positive.

Next, when the potential of terminal a₁ becomes +E₀₁, diode D₁₅ is made conductive and a current flows in accordance with the order of a₁ →C₃ →C₄ →C₅ →x→D₁₅ →P₁ →C₁₀ →C₉ →C₈ →C₇ →C₆ →m. Thus, the voltage of 4E₀₁, which is the sum of the voltage 2E₀₁ between a₁ and b₁, the charging voltages 8E₀₂ +3E₀₁, 4E₀₁, and 4E₀₁ of capacitors C₃, C₄, and C₅, and the charging voltages -4E₀₁, -4E₀₁, -4E₀₂, and -4E₀₂ of capacitors C₉, C₈, C₇, and C₆, is charged into capacitor C₁₀, in which the polarity of output terminal P₁ is positive.

Namely, in the loadless condition, each charging voltage of output capacitors C₆ and C₇ of the second multiple step-up rectifier circuit is 4E₀₂, which is twice as high as the voltage 2E₀₂ between a₂ and b₂. Each of the charging voltages of output capacitors C₈, C₉, and C₁₀ of the first multiple step-up rectifier circuit is 4E₀₁, which is twice as high as the voltage 2E₀₁ between a₁ and b₁. Therefore, assuming that the voltage 2E₀₁ is generated between second output terminal P₂ and reference potential terminal m is E₂ [V], E₂ is equal to 8E₀₂. Assume that the voltage which is generated between first and second output terminals P₁ and P₂ is E₁ [V], E₁ is equal to 12E₀₁. Therefore, when it is assumed that the number of steps of the first multiple step-up rectifier circuit (namely, the number of supply capacitors which are connected between either one of first input terminals a₁ and b₁ and each node among the diodes which are connected in series between P₁ and P₂) is n₁ (n₁ =3 in the case of FIG. 1), and the number of steps of the second multiple step-up rectifier circuit (namely, the number of supply capacitors which are connected between either one of second input terminals a₂ and b₂ and each node among the diodes which are connected in series between m and P₂) is n₂ (n₂ =2 in the case of FIG. 1), output currents i₁ and i₂ of output terminals P₁ and P₂ are 0 in the loadless condition. Therefore, output voltages E₁ and E₂ of the first and second multiple step-up rectifier circuits in the loadless condition can be obtained by the following expressions, respectively.

    E.sub.1 =2n.sub.1 ·2E.sub.01                      (1)

    E.sub.2 =2n.sub.2 ·2E.sub.02                      (2)

The operation under the condition such that a load is connected will now be described. As mentioned above, voltage drops occur in the output voltages by the load current under the condition with a load. This voltage drop will be described with reference to FIG. 2.

A circuit (shown in FIG. 2) is constituted in a manner such that diodes D₁ to D₆ and capacitors C₁, C₂, C₆, C₇, C₁₁, and C₁₂, which constitute the first multiple step-up rectifier circuit, are removed from the circuit (shown in FIG. 1), the cathode of diode D₇, constituting the first rectifier circuit, is connected to reference potential terminal m, and a load resistor R_(L) is connected between output terminal P₁ and reference potential terminal m. In FIG. 2, the same parts and elements as those shown in FIG. 1 are designated by the same reference numerals.

First, if it is assumed that the mean value of the load current for one period is I [A], all of the voltage drops which will be caused in capacitors C₈ to C₁₀ for one period T are equal to e₀. In this case, the following conditions (a) to (c) are satisfied.

(a) The load current is supplied from output capacitors C₈, C₉, and C₁₀. Thus, identical voltage drops e₀ occur in these capacitors.

(b) The respective voltage drops which are caused in output capacitors C₈, C₉, and C₁₀ within one period T are compensated by supply capacitors C₃, C₄, and C₅ when the potential of terminal a₁ becomes positive. Namely, the voltages discharged by output capacitors C₈, C₉, and C₁₀ are supplemented by the currents from supply capacitors C₃, C₄, and C₅, respectively.

(c) Similarly to item (b), the voltage drops which are caused in supply capacitors C₃, C₄, and C₅ within one period T are respectively compensated by supply capacitors C₁₃, C₁₄, and C₁₅ when the voltage of terminal b₁ becomes positive.

Consequently, the voltage drops which are caused in the respective capacitors within one period T are as follows.

C₈, C₉, C₁₀ : e₀

C₅ : e₀ (Voltage drop due to the supply of the current to capacitor C₁₀)

C₁₅ : e₀ (Voltage drop due to the supply of the current to capacitor C₅)

C₄ : 2e₀ (Voltage drop due to the supply of the currents to capacitors C₉ and C₁₅)

C₁₄ : 2e₀ (Voltage drop due to the supply of the current to capacitor C₄)

C₃ : 3e₀ (Voltage drop due to the supply of the currents to capacitors C₈ and C₁₄)

C₁₃ : 3e₀ (Voltage drop due to the supply of the current to capacitor C₃)

Since the voltage drops which are caused in the respective capacitors are sequentially accumulated by the supply of the currents, they will become as follows:

C₁₃ :3e₀, C₃ :6e₀, C₁₄ :8e₀,

C₄ :10e₀, C₁₅ :11e₀, C₅ :12e₀

Since the voltage drop which is caused in output capacitor C₁₀ is supplied by supply capacitor C₅, the voltage drop after the current was supplied becomes 12e₀. Similarly, the voltage drops which are caused in output capacitors C₉ and C₈ are 10e₀ and 6e₀, respectively.

Therefore, the values of the voltage drops in output capacitors C₈, C₉, and C₁₀ can be expressed as follows, respectively:

C₈ : (2×3)e₀

C₉ : (2×3+2×2 )e₀

C₁₀ : (2×3+2×2+2×1)e₀

In the above expressions, 3 indicates the number of supply capacitors C₃, C₄, and C₅ or C₁₃, C₁₄, and C₁₅ connected between either one of first input terminals a₁ and b₁ and each node among the diodes. Therefore, when the number of supply capacitors connected between terminal a₁ or b₁ and each node among the diodes is represented by n, the voltage drops which are caused in the output capacitors C₈, C₉, and C₁₀ are expressed by the following expressions:

    C.sub.8 : 2 ne.sub.0                                       (a)

    C.sub.9 :{2n+2(n-1)}e.sub.0                                (b)

    C.sub.10 : {2n+2(n-1)+2(n-2)}e.sub.0                       (c)

Assuming that the whole voltage drop which is caused by the load current is E_(d), whole voltage drop E_(d) is the sum of the voltage drops which are caused in output capacitors C₈, C₉, and C₁₀ ; therefore, it can be expressed as follows:

    E.sub.d ={2n×3+2(n-1)(3-1)+2(n-2)(3-2)}e.sub.0

In this expression, 3 denotes the number of output capacitors. When the number of output capacitors is also represented by n, whole voltage drop E_(d) is expressed as follows: ##EQU3##

It is now assumed that the capacitance of each capacitor is C [F], the charge amount is Q [C], the load current is I [A], the period of the input voltage is T [sec], and the frequency is f [Hz]. In this case, e₀ is expressed as follows: ##EQU4## Therefore, expression (3) can be rewritten as follows: ##EQU5##

On the basis of the above description, it is now assumed that, in the circuit shown in FIG. 1, load currents i₁ and i₂ are respectively output from first and second output terminals P₁ and P₂. The voltage drops by load currents i₁ and i₂ will now be considered. First, voltage drop E_(1d) in output voltage E₁ is expressed as follows from expression (4): ##EQU6## where n₁ is the number of steps between P₁ and P₂ and I₁ equals i₁. Voltage drop E_(2d) in output voltage E₂ is expressed as follows from expression (4), since the voltage drop by load current i₁ which is output from terminal P₁ is added to the voltage drop by load current i₂, which is output from terminal P₂ : ##EQU7## where n₂ is the number of steps between P₂ and m and I₂ =i₁ +i₂.

In the loadless condition, since output voltages E₁ and E₂ are indicated by expressions (1) and (2), output voltages E₁ and E₂, when a load is connected, can be expressed as follows: ##EQU8##

On the basis of the above-mentioned relations, control means for making the output voltages constant, irrespective of the loadless condition, and the condition in which a load is connected will now be described herein below.

First, assuming that by increasing the output voltage value of AC power source A, voltage 2E₀₁ between a₁ and b₁ was adjusted to 2E₀₁, so as to compensate the voltage drop in output voltage E₁, the following relation can be derived from expressions (1) and (7): ##EQU9## In this case, voltage 2E₀₂ between a₂ and b₂ also increases. Therefore, when it is assumed that the increased voltage is 2E₀₂ ' and output voltage E₂ is also equalized to the voltage under the loadless condition, the following relation will be obtained from expressions (2) and (8): ##EQU10## The following expressions are derived by dividing both sides in expressions (9) and (10) by 4n₁ E₀₁ and 4n₂ E₀₂, respectively: ##EQU11## When the voltage on the primary side of transformer T increases, the voltage between a₁ and b₁ and the voltage between a₂ and b₂ on the secondary side also increases at the same ratio. Therefore, the following relation is obtained: ##EQU12## Thus, the following expression can be derived from expressions (11) and (12): ##EQU13##

Therefore, in the circuit shown in FIG. 1, if the ratio of the capacitances of the capacitors is set so as to satisfy expression (14), and one output voltage (for example: E₂) is regulated, the other output voltage (for example: E₁) can be also simultaneously regulated. This regulating means may be realized by, for instance, detecting the level of output voltage E₂ and by controlling the output value of AC power source A so that this detection level always coincides with the reference voltage level.

FIG. 3 shows the second embodiment, in which the same parts and elements as those shown in the circuit of FIG. 1 are designated by the same reference numerals.

Namely, in a multiple step-up rectifier circuit shown in FIG. 3, capacitor C₁ is connected between a₂ and f; capacitor C₂ is connected between a₁ and j; capacitor C₁₁ is connected between b₁ and e; capacitor C₁₂ is connected between b₂ and h; and capacitor C₃ is connected between a₂ and n. Node g between diodes D₃ and D₄ is a third output terminal P₃. The other circuit constitution is the same as that in FIG. 1. Namely, diodes D₇ to D₁₅ and capacitors C₃ to C₅, C₈ to C₁₀, and C₁₃ to C₁₅ constitute the first multiple step-up rectifier circuit; diodes D₄ to D₆ and capacitors C₂, C₇, and C₁₂ constitute the second multiple step-up rectifier circuit; and diodes D₁ to D₃ and capacitors C₁, C₆, and C₁₁ constitute the third multiple step-up rectifier circuit. It is now assumed that all of the capacitances of capacitors C₃ to C₅, C₈ to C₁₀, and C₁₃ to C₁₅ of the first multiple step-up rectifier circuit are equal to C_(a) [F]. It is assumed that all of the capacitances of capacitors C₂, C₇, and C₁₂ of the second multiple step-up rectifier circuit are equal to C_(b) [F]. It is assumed that all of the capacitances of capacitors C₁, C₆, and C₁₁ of the third multiple step-up rectifier circuit are equal to C_(c) [F].

In the above constitution, it is now assumed that the voltage of 2E₀₁ is generated between first input terminals a₁ and b₁ and the voltage of 2E₀₂ is generated between second input terminals a₂ and b₂. In this case, the following voltages are charged into the capacitors, respectively:

C₁₁ :E₀₁, C₁ :2E₀₁ +E₀₂, C₆ :2(E₀₁ +E₀₂),

C₁₂ :2E₀₁ +3E₀₂, C₂ :3E₀₁ +4E₀₂, C₇ :2(E₀₁ +E₀₂),

C₁₃ :5E₀₁ +4E₀₂, C₃ :6E₀₁ +5E₀₂, C₈ :2(E₀₁ +E₀₂),

C₁₄ :2(E₀₁ +E₀₂), C₄ :2(E₀₁ +E₀₂), C₉ :2(E₀₁ +E₀₂),

C₁₅ :2(E₀₁ +E₀₂), C₅ :2(E₀₁ +E₀₂), C₁₀ :2(E₀₁ +E₀₂)

From the above description, output voltages E₁ to E₃ of the first to third multiple step-up rectifier circuits under the loadless condition can be expressed as follows when the numbers of steps of these circuits assume n₁, n₂, and n₃, respectively:

    E.sub.1 =2n.sub.1 (E.sub.01 +E.sub.02)                     (15)

    E.sub.2 =2n.sub.2 (E.sub.01 +E.sub.02)                     (16)

    E.sub.3 =2n.sub.3 (E.sub.01 +E.sub.02)                     (17)

Voltage drops E_(1d), E_(2d), and E_(3d) of the first to third multiple step-up rectifier circuits can be expressed as follows from expression (4): ##EQU14## In this case, it is assumed that the load currents which are output from first to third output terminals P₁ to P₃ are i₁, i₂, and i₃, respectively, and that I₁ =i₁, I₂ =i₁ +i₂, and I₃ =i₁ +i₂ +i₃. Therefore, output voltages E₁, E₂, and E₃, when a load is connected, are expressed as follows, respectively: ##EQU15##

The output voltage of power source A is adjusted so that output voltage E₃ under the loadless condition is equal to output voltage E₃ when a load is connected. When it is now assumed that the voltage between a₂ and b₁ is (E₀₂ +E₀₁)', the following relation is obtained from expressions (17) and (23): ##EQU16## At this time, the voltage between a₁ and b₂ also increases at the same ratio as the change in voltage between a₂ and b₁. When this increased voltage assumes (E₀₁ +E₀₂)", the following relations are derived from expressions (16), (22), (15), and (21): ##EQU17## In this case, since ##EQU18## the following expressions can be derived from expression (24) to (27): ##EQU19##

Therefore, if the ratios among the capacitances of the respective capacitors are set so as to satisfy expressions (28) to (30), by regulating one output voltage (for example: E₃), all of the output voltages (e.g., E₁ and E₂) can be also regulated.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. For example, in the first and second embodiments, the description has been made with respect to the case of using the secondary winding of the transformer having the first and second input terminals receive the AC voltage and the center tap terminal as the reference potential terminal. However, the invention can be also realized by the constitution such that the first and second input terminals and reference input terminal are directly connected to the AC power source without passing through the transformer. On the other hand, the description has been made with regard to the operation in the above embodiments in the case where the voltage between the second input terminal and the reference potential terminal differs from the voltage of the corresponding first input terminal. However, even if they are the same voltage, no contradiction will be caused in the operation. The essential point is to determine the capacitances of the capacitors constituting each multiple step-up rectifier circuit so as to satisfy expression (14) in accordance with the magnitude of load current and with the number of multiple steps. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A multiple step-up rectifier circuit, comprising:first input terminals (Al, Bl) between which a first voltage is applied; second input terminals (A2, B2) between which a second voltage different from said first voltage is applied; a reference potential point provided between said first input terminals and between said second input terminals, the polarity of said first voltage applied to one (A1) of said first input terminals being opposite to that of said first voltage applied to the other first input terminal (B1) with respect to said reference potential point, and the polarity of said second voltage applied to one (A2) of said second input terminals being opposite to that of said second voltage applied to the other second input terminal (B2) with respect to said reference potential point; a plurality of rectifier elements connected in series to provide a rectifier series circuit and have the same rectifying direction, one end of said rectifier series circuit being connected to said reference potential point; a plurality of first capacitors connected in series to provide a capacitor series circuit having two ends connected to the respective ends of said rectifier series circuit, each first capacitor being connected in parallel to two or more of said first rectifier elements; a first output terminal provided at that end of said capacitor series circuit which is connected to the other end of said rectifier series circuit; a second output terminal provided at a connection point between arbitrary, adjacent two of said first capacitors; second capacitors grouped into first and second second capacitor groups, said first second capacitor group including at least one of said second capacitors, and having two ends, one of which is connected to said one (A1) of said first input terminals while the other end of said first second capacitor group is connected to a connection point between arbitrary, adjacent two of said rectifier elements, which is located between said first and second output terminals, said second second capacitor group including at least one of said second capacitors, and having two ends, one of which is connected to said other first input terminal (B1) while the other end of said second second capacitor group is connected to a connection point between arbitrary, adjacent two of said rectifier elements, which is located between said first and second output terminals and is different from said connection point where said other end of said first second capacitor group is connected; third capacitors grouped into first and second third capacitor groups, said first third capacitor group including at least one of said third capacitors, and having two ends, one of which is connected to said one (A2) of said second input terminals while the other end of said first third capacitor group is connected to a connection point between arbitrary, adjacent two of said rectifier elements, which is located between said second output terminal and said reference potential point or connected to a connection point between arbitrary, adjacent two of said rectifier elements, which is located between said second output terminal and a third output terminal located closer to said reference potential point than said second output terminal, said second third capacitor group including at least one of said third capacitors, and having two ends, one of which is connected to said other second input terminal (B2) while the other end of said second third capacitor group is connected to a connection point between arbitrary, adjacent two of said rectifier elements, which is located between said second output terminal and said reference potential point or a connection point between arbitrary, adjacent two of said rectifier elements, which is different from said connection point where said other end of said first third capacitor group is connected; said second and third capacitors having the following relationship: ##EQU20## where C₁ : capacitance of each of said second capacitors,C₂ : capacitance of each of said third capacitors, n₁ : half the number of said second capacitors, n₂ : half the number of said third capacitors, I₁ : output current of said first output terminal, I₂ : output current of said second output terminal, E₁ : first voltage applied between said first input terminals, and E₂ : second voltage applied between said second input terminals.
 2. A multiple step-up rectifier circuit according to claim 1, wherein each of said first and second second capacitor groups includes a plurality of second capacitors connected in series and a connection point between adjacent second capacitors in each of said first and second second capacitor groups is connected to a connection point between arbitrary, adjacent two of said rectifier elements, which is located between said first and second output terminals.
 3. A multiple step-up rectifier circuit according to claim 1, wherein each of said first and second third capacitor groups includes a plurality of third capacitors connected in series and a connection point between adjacent third capacitors in each of said first and second third capacitor groups is connected to a connection point between arbitrary, adjacent two of said rectifier elements, which is located between said second output terminal and said reference potential point or a connection point between arbitrary, adjacent two of said rectifier elements, which is located between said second output terminal and said third output terminal.
 4. A multiple step-up rectifier circuit according to claim 1, wherein said first voltage applied to said one (A1) of said first input terminals has the same amplitude as said first voltage applied to said other first input terminal (B1) with respect to said reference potential point.
 5. A multiple step-up rectifier circuit according to claim 1, wherein said second voltage applied to said one (A2) of said second input terminals has the same amplitude as said second voltage applied to said other second input terminal (B2) with respect to said reference potential point.
 6. A multiple step-up rectifier circuit according to claim 1, wherein each of said first and second second capacitor groups includes a plurality of second capacitors connected in series, each of said first and second third capacitor groups includes a plurality of third capacitors connected in series, a connection point between adjacent second capacitors in each of said first and second second capacitor groups is connected to a connection point between arbitrary, adjacent two of said rectifier elements, which is located between said first and second output terminals, and a connection point between adjacent third capacitors in each of said first and second third capacitor groups is connected to a connection point between arbitrary, adjacent two of said rectifier elements, which is located between said second output terminal and said reference potential point or a connection point between arbitrary, adjacent two of said rectifier elements, which is located between said second output terminal and said third output terminal.
 7. A multiple step-up rectifier circuit according to claim 1, wherein said first and second input terminals are provided on the secondary winding of a transformer, said secondary winding having a center tap grounded and connected to said reference potential point.
 8. A multiple step-up rectifier circuit according to claim 7, wherein said one (A1) of said first input terminals and said one (A2) of said second input terminals are provided on said secondary winding of said transformer at the same potential point.
 9. A multiple step-up rectifier circuit according to claim 7, wherein said other first input terminal (B1) and said other second input terminal (B2) are provided on said secondary winding of said transformer at the same potential point. 